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Table 2-28: Motor Vehicle Fatal Crashes by Posted Speed Limit

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  1975 1980 1985 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Under 55 mph                            
5,10,15, 20, 25 mpha 2,617 2,865 2,504 2,234 2,097 1,911 1,895 1,890 1,893 1,896 1,955 1,873 1,863 1,813
30, 35 mph 6,099 8,527 7,889 7,756 6,908 6,696 6,759 6,565 6,681 6,445 6,383 6,025 5,946 6,011
40, 45 mph 4,276 6,256 6,813 7,092 6,608 6,345 6,454 6,632 6,938 7,096 7,132 7,349 7,245 7,228
50 mph 2,241 2,431 2,072 2,054 1,894 1,875 1,877 1,861 1,927 1,908 1,788 1,771 1,909 1,823
Total 15,233 20,079 19,278 19,136 17,507 16,827 16,985 16,948 17,439 17,345 17,258 17,018 16,963 16,875
55 mph and above                            
55 mph 16,094 20,352 18,862 17,556 16,543 15,444 15,980 16,512 16,753 14,097 12,897 12,522 12,184 12,026
60 mph N N N 18 9 4 9 13 16 523 935 1,073 1,069 1,151
65 mph N N N 2,175 2,078 2,002 2,155 2,173 2,323 3,214 3,311 3,421 3,537 3,671
70 mph N N N 0 0 0 0 0 38 1,282 1,633 1,835 2,079 2,207
Over 70 mph N N N 0 0 0 0 0 10 344 475 482 504 513
Total 16,094 20,352 18,862 19,749 18,630 17,450 18,144 18,698 19,140 19,460 19,251 19,333 19,373 19,568
Unknown, total 7,834 4,853 1,055 951 800 665 651 608 662 689 815 756 804 b966
TOTAL fatal crashes 39,161 45,284 39,195 39,836 36,937 34,942 35,780 36,254 37,241 37,494 37,324 37,107 37,140 37,409

KEY: N = data do not exist.

a The "No Statutory Limit" speed limit designation is included in this category.

b Includes crashes classified as "Blank" speed limit in the source.

NOTES: In 1974, Congress enacted a national maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour (mph). Amendments in 1987 and 1991 allowed states to increase speed limits to 65 mph on rural Interstates and similar highways.

The National Maximum Speed Limit was repealed in late 1995; speed limits are again set by the states, some of which have raised their maximum speed limits to 70 mph or above.

SOURCES: 1975-93: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, personal communications, Oct. 22, 1996, Feb. 1999, and Oct. 4, 1999.

1994-2000: Ibid., Internet data query from Internet site http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov as of Aug. 10, 2001.